For the first debate, happening next week over two nights, candidates needed 65,000 donors from at least 20 different states in order to guarantee a spot on the stage (some are qualifying via polling alone). With 20 Democrats taking to the stage including candidates like Andrew Yang and Marianne Williamson, there’s little evidence that the requirement kept people away, but it has forced many candidates to invest very heavily early on into building their email lists.

It’s the rare sort of “requirement” that serves the interests of both parties. On one hand, the campaigns are forced to take digital seriously on their campaign, something Democrats have been concerned with for some time. And on the other hand, the party leveraging the enthusiasm for their two dozen candidates to build the party’s own email list and voter file.

Even Joe Biden, the current front-runner, and now three-time presidential candidate is being dragged into the modern era of campaigns, outspending his opponents in online advertising. Without the DNC’s grassroots fundraising requirement, this would not have been the case.

But you may not know the huge benefit directly to the DNC. They have effectively outsourced the bulk of their email list building to the individual campaigns.

As part of the requirement to access the party’s voter file, each candidate has entered into a data sharing agreement and has also agreed to sign email copy on behalf of the DNC. A recent email from one of the 2020 candidates on behalf of the party had this disclaimer:

Not only are they growing their list in the process, the party is training tens of thousands of grassroots supporters on how to become online donors. They’re familiarizing them with the process, and, in the case of Act Blue, creating a database of one-click donors.

The eventual nominee will have access to an incredible grassroots fundraising infrastructure that will be necessary to take on the Trump campaign’s massive, early advantage.